Apparatus for producing sheet glass



Aug. 12, 1930. ALLEN 1 ,772,448

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SHEET GLASS Origihal Filed Jam-10, 1921 2 ShetsSheet 2 LM INVENT c114,

Horace E fi//en.

- ATTURNEY.

Patented Aug. 12, 1930 UNITED STATES HORACE E. ALLEN, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO LIBBEY-OWENS-FORD GLASS COM- PATENT OFFICE PANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SHEET GLASS Original application filed January 10, 1921, Serial No. 436,039. Divided and this application filed October- 10, 1924. Serial No. 742,796.

This invention relates to the art of making sheet glass, and more particularly to flowing streams, which eventually form the outer surfaces of the glass sheet, never from the time they leave the molten bath, until the sheet has formed and set, contact with anything except the surrounding heated atmosphere. In this way a sheet. devoid of surface mars or scratches of any kind, and Having a fine fire-polished, surface is produced. Furthermore, the container employed is mounted in a manner that it can be raised or lowered'a-t' either end as desired, while at the same time it is mounted in a manner to permit tiltable adjustment so that the streams flowing from the container can be regulated as desired.

An important object of the invention is to I provide apparatus of this character, employing a container in the form of a slab having a glass receiving trough therein that is adapted to be .tiltably adjusted to facilitate.

accurate control of the overflow of molten glass from within the trough of the said slab. Another important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus employing a slab having a trohgh therein wherein a supply of molten glass is introduced within the trough and permitted to overflow or spill over the trough in a manner to flow down the opposite sides of the slab, at the end of which they merge together to form a single sheet, the said slab being mounted for vertical adjustment and for tiltable adjustment, whereby the overflow from the trough can be regulated to produce the desired overflow on both sides of the slab in a manner to give a smooth flat sheet.

Other objects and advantages of the int' will become a arent durin the ven Ion Pp g ihcting out through an aperture 13 in the adcourse of the following description.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to do! ignate like parts throughout the same, I p

Fig.- 1 is a vertical transverse section through the apparatus, Fig.2 is a horizontal section through the apparatus taken substantially on line '22 of Fig. 1, part of the heating chamber above the overflow receptacle being broken away to disclose the upper portion of the receptacle,

3 is a central longitudinal vertical section through the apparatus taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

4 is a fragmentary end view. of the adustmg mechanism showing various positions of the overflow slab 'or receptacle.

The subject-matter of this invention is disclosed in my copending application for sheet glass drawing apparatus, filed January 10, 1921, and bearing Serial No. 436,039, the present application being a division of same.

At 1 is indicated conventionally the discharge end of a continuous tank furnace which serves as a continuous source of molten glass for the sheet forming apparatus. A bath of molten glass 2 is disposed in the tank 1. A pair of conduits 3 lead from the dis: charge end of the tank, each conduit being provided with a gate or closure shown in the form of a shear-cake 4, whereby the flow of glass 5 through the conduit may be cut off or suitably regulated. I

The sheet forming, mechanism is here shown as comprising three main parts, a central wedge-shaped container or slab 6, and two end supply receptacles or ots 7, each constructed of some suitable re ractory material such as fire-clay. Each receptacle 7 has an upper open end 8 for receiving the flow of glass from the conduit 3, and a lower passage 9 communicating with a similar passage 10 in the adjacent end of the wedgeshaped container or slab 6. The receptacles 6 and 7 aresubstantially permanently united,

j acent side of an enclosing chamber 11L The stub shafts 12 are each supported in a ]ournal member or collar 15. The collars or journals 15 are pivotally connected to a screw-shaft 16 by means of a suitable pin or the like 16.

Each screw 16 is slidable vertically in an internally threaded aperture formed in the supporting bracket 17 and is held in the de sired adjustment by means of the lock nut 18 carried by bracket 17.

As is shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, a pair of stub shafts 14 are disposed at both ends of the machine and are adapted for vertical adjustment either simultaneously, or if it is desired, one side or the other can be raised or lowered, thus placing either pair of the alined stub shafts in a longitudinal plane above or below the longitudinal plane of the remaining pair.

The wedge-shaped slab or container 6- is sup orted between the two'receptaoles 7 partially by the end extensions 19 which project into similar recesses in the adjacent sides of the receptacle 7, and partially by the. metallic supporting member 20, which is embedded in the lower portion of the slab, as shown in Fig. 1. The ends of the member 20 are carried bysupporting brackets 21 depending from the brackets 11. The member 6,as best shown in Fig. 3, is of a narrow wedge-shape and is hollow at the thick upper end to form a trough or receptacle 22 for the molten glass 1 container merge into the interior of the-sheet,

which is fed in through the end passages 10. The upper. side 'of the member 6 is open in the form of a longnarrow slot 23, so that the molten glass will overflow through this slot and spill over-the sides of the container 6. The shallow sheet-likestreams of glass which overflow at the'sides of the container will adhere to the inwardly sloping sides of the container and come together at the lower edge of the wedge or slab to form a single stream of glass. B manipulating the screwthreaded sha ts 16' in the brackets 17, the

slab 6 can be raised or lowered at either end as desirable, while at the same time the slab can be tilted as indicated-in dotted lines in Fig. 4, so that the shallow stream-like flow of glass can be regulated. Obviously, by tilting the slab, as indicated in Fig. 4, to one side or the other by raising and lowering the screw-threaded shafts 16, the flow of glass overeither side of the slab 6 can be thinned out or thickened as desired to produce the reuired form of sheet. It will thus be seen t at the slab'6 is tiltably mounted b means of the four stub shaftsso that the $10. can be tiltably adjusted at any time during the sheet forming operation without in any way disturbing the continuous operation of the'machine, while at the same time an accurate control of the overflow can be had.

The enclosing chamber 14 which substantially surroundsthe glass containing receptacles 6 and 7 is here connected at its upper end with the furnace chamber and also contains suitable burners, which are not shown,

the upper face of the supporting to maintain the entire surrounding atmoshere at a high heat as the molten glass must be kept in a highly'flui-d condition to insure the proper operation of the apparatus. Directly above the container 6 is a heating chamber 24 having burners 25 therein and a series of apertures 26 in its bottom to direct the heat downwardly onto the flowing glass. Also tomaintain the lower portion of the slab 6 at the proper temperature an electric heating apparatus may be placed in the body of the wedge below the receptacle 22 as indicated conventionally at 27.

In operation the gates 4 are adjusted to attain a suitable flow of molten glass from the tank 1. This glass flows into a receptacle 7 through passages 9 and 10 to the receptacle 22 and overthrows through opening or slot 23, and down around the converging sides of the wedge member. The temperature is so regulated that the streams of molten glass .will flow freely down the exterior of the container 6', but stil. be sufliciently viscous to maintain a sheet like formation and adhere somewhat to the outer walls of the container. At the lower edge of the wedge or slab where the converging walls come together the two streams unite and it will be observed that the two inner faces of the streams which have been in engagement with the walls of the glass down the sidesof the converging faces.

of the'slab 6, the shafts 16" may be raised and lowered within the supporting. brackets 17, thus tilting the slab in either direction as isindicated in Fig. 4. This tilting of the slab will obviously make it possible to accurately control the overflow of the molten glass so that both streams will be of the same thickness at all times. Furthermore, one end or the other of the slab can be raised or lowered so that an even stream throughout the entire length of the slab can be had. After the sheet has left the slab 6, it maybe allowed to flow away under its own wei ht through a slot 29 in the lower face of chamber 14, either into the open air or into asuitable annealing chamber 30, as shown in Fig. 3. Any suitable apparatus may be employed for annealing the sheet and for dividing the sheet into sections of the desired size after it has been annealed.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is, to

be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changesin the shape,

size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

1. In a glass drawing apparatus, a slab, means to deliver glass to the upper end of the slab, means whereby the glass is permitted to flow from said upper end over the surface of the slab, and means to mount the slab for lateral tiltable adjustment to regulate the supply of glass delivered to the slab surface.

2. In a glass drawing apparatus, a slab, means for supplying molten glass to the interior of the slab, the glass overflowing to entirely surround the side of the slab and flowing off in sheet form from the edge thereof, and means to mount the slab for lateral tiltable adjustment whereby to regulate the distribution of the glass.

3. In a glass drawing apparatus, a receptacle having downwardly converging side portions, means for supplying-molten glass 'to the interior of the receptacle, a spillway at the upper portion of the receptacle from whiz-h the glass ov'erflows down the two sides thereof, and means to mount the receptacle for tiltable adjustment to controLthe flow of glass down the two sides thereof.

4. In an apparatus for producing sheet glass, a hollow member having a. longitudinal opening at the top and intake openings at its ends, means for supplying molten glass through the end openings, the glass overflowing through the top of the member, flowing down around the sides thereof, and uniting at the lower side of, the member to flow off as a single sheet of glass, and means to mount the hollow member for tiltable adjustment.

5. In an apparatus for producing sheet glass, a container for molten glass having a longitudinal opening at the top, means for feeding molten glass to the container so that the glass will overflow through the opening and down the outer sides of the container, means to mount the container for tiltable adjustment for} controlling the overflow, the two down-flowing streams of glass uniting to form a single sheet of glass. v

6. In an apparatus for producing sheet glass, a container for molten glass having a longitudinal opening at the top, means for supplying molten glass to the 'container so that the glass will flow through the opening and down the two sides of the container, the two streams of molten glass uniting below the container, means for mounting the container for tiltable and vertical adjustment, and means for carrying away the united streams as a single sheet of glass.

7. In an apparatus for producing sheet glass, a heated wedge-shaped slab, means for supplying molten glass to the interior of the slab, the glass overflowing to'entirely surin sheet form from the edge of the slab, an

glass, a wedge-shaped slab having a trough -means to flow a stream of round the sides of the slab and flowing means for mounting the slab for tiltable ad justment to control the overflow of glass.

8. In. an apparatus for producing shee glass, a wedge-shaped slab having a trou therein, tanks associated with the ends of t 1 slab to supply molten glass to the trough bracket means for supporting the tanks and slab, stub shafts carried by the bracket means, and means to raise or lower the stub shafts to tilt the said slab and tanks.

9. In an apparatus for producing sheet therein, tanks associated with the ends of the slab to supply molten glass to the trough, bracket means for supporting the tanks and slab, stub shafts carried by the bracket means, means to raise or lower the stub shafts to tilt the said slab and tanks, and means to hold a the said shafts in the desired adjustment.

10. In a glass drawing apparatus, a. slab, means to flow glass on the surface of the slab, means to mount the slab for vertical adjustment and lateral tiltable adjustment, and means to hold the said means in the desired adjustment.

11. In a glass drawing apparatus, a slab,

lass down both sides of the slab, and means or independent- .1. ly controlling the quantity flow of glass on both sides, and means for drawing the two streams in united sheet form from the end of the slab.

12. In mechanism of the character dem scribed, the combination of a vertically disposed slab having a glass-receiving .chamber in the upper end thereof wherefrom a supply of glass overflows to the sides of the slab, and means for mounting said slab for tiltable lu. movement whereby to regulate the flow of the glassdown opposite sides of the slab.

13. In a glass drawing apparatus, the combination of a vertically disposed slab down opposite sides of which lass is permitted to flow, said slab having a gIass-receiving recess in its top from which the glass overflows down opposite sides of the slab, and means for mounting said slab for pivotal movement whereby the thickness of the glass at opposite sides of the slab may vary.

14. In a mechanism of the character described, a vertically disposed slab having a glass-receivin chamber in the upper end thereof where rom glass is permitted to overflow down opposite sides of the slab, and adjustable supports'at the ends of the slab permitting the slab to be tilted and thereby relatively adjust the quantity of glass delivered to the upper portion of opposite sides of 12 the slab.

15. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a vertically disposed slab, adapted to receive on its top a supply of glass which overflows down opposite sides of the slab, and adjustable supporting means for the slab permltting the same to be raised or lowered while maintaining the upper portion thereof level, and said supporting means also permitting one end of the slab to be raised or lowered a greater distance than v the op osite end.

16. n a mechanism of the character de scribed, the combination of avertica'llyv disposed slab-having a receptacle in the top thereof and opposed surfaces inclining inwardly towards the lower end of the slab, the receptacle being ada ted to receive a supply of glass which over ows therefrom over op-' posite surfaces of the slab, and means to adjust the slab .to regulate the inclination thereof and thereby regulate the supply of glass to opposed surfaces.

v 17. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a verticallydisposed slab having a receptacle in the top thereof and opposed surfaces inclining inwardly toward-s the lower end of the slab, the rece tacle being ada ted to receive a supply of g ass which over ows therefrom over opposite surfaces of the slab, means to adjust "the slab to regulate the inclination thereof and thereby regulate the supply of glass to opposed surfaces, and means for retaining said slab in adjusted position.

' 18. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a vertically disosed slab having a glass-receiving chamber 1n the upper end thereof wherefrom the glass is permltted tooverflow down opposed sides of the slab, supporting means at opposite ends of the slab, said supporting means constituting in effect a fulcrum permitting the slab to have tiltable adjustment, wherebyto relatively regulate the suppl of glass to the res ective surfaces of the s ab.

igned at Toledo, in the county of Lucas, and4State' of Ohio, this 7th day of October,

' HORACE E. ALLEN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,772,448. GrantedAugust 12, 1930, to

HORACE E. ALLEN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, strike outlines 93 to 99, comprising claim 11; same page, lines 100, 108, 117, 127, and page4, lines 8, 19nd 31, for claim numbers l2, l3, l4, l5, i6, 17 and 15, read 11, 12, 13, 14-, l5, l6 and 17; and thatthe said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of October, A. D. 1930.

Mr L Moore 

